Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi is no longer one of the 10 best goaltending prospects in the NHL, at least according to one analyst.
Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis released his list of the top 25 NHL-affiliated goalie prospects on Tuesday, with Levi checking in at No. 11. It's a sharp decline from last year, when the Canadian netminder was ranked No. 4.
"Despite Levi being on the smaller side, there's still hope for him," Ellis wrote. "He's extremely athletic and battles so hard. Some would argue Levi has the most upside of any goaltender in the Sabres' packed system — but is there a legit pathway to NHL success still? I hope so, because he's so much fun to watch."
It puts a lot of pressure on the Northeastern University product's shoulders to stop the slide and show he'll be ready for a full-time role with the Sabres no later than the 2026-27 season.
Levi's prospect track record
Levi has been terrific throughout his development journey. Here's a look at his cumulative save percentage at each of his non-NHL stops so far:
Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL): .941
Northeastern University (NCAA): .942
Rochester Americans (AHL): .922
The 23-year-old Quebec native won the Mike Richter Award as college hockey's best goalie in both of his seasons with the Huskies. He's also posted a .916 SV% across 13 playoff appearances during his time with the Amerks.
So, there's a lot to like about his production despite lingering concerns about his 6-foot frame in an era of 6-foot-5 goalies like Sabres starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Levi hasn't found the same level of success in the NHL, though. He's compiled a 3.29 goals against average and .894 SV% in 39 outings for Buffalo. That includes an unsightly .872 SV% in nine games for the Sabres last season.
The fact he returned to Rochester and played well was a promising sign that his confidence wasn't shaken, but uncertainty will remain until he finds consistent success in hockey's top league.
Sabres' 2025-26 goaltending outlook
Luukkonen will be given every chance to regain the Sabres' full-time role between the pipes despite his own struggles last season. He recorded a 3.20 GAA and .887 SV%, which caused him to cede an increased number of starts to James Reimer down the stretch.
Whether UPL can bounce back closer to his production in 2023-24 (2.57 GAA and .910 SV%) will be one of the biggest factors in determining whether Buffalo can make a playoff push.
The Sabres signed Alex Lyon to fill the backup role. The 32-year-old American racked up a .902 SV% across previous stints with the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings over the past eight seasons.
Lyon is a dependable backup, but Buffalo likely can't count on him to become the every-night starter if UPL falters again.
So, while the ideal path is giving Levi another full season in Rochester, that may not be possible if Luukkonen's struggles extend into the 2025-26 campaign.
Levi will be the "break glass in case of emergency" goalie this season. If Buffalo calls him up, it's probably desperate for better play in net to keep its season alive.